. >> reporter: with the clock ticking in washington and the fiscal cliff moving closer every day, tim geithner said they will only approve a plan with tax rates. >> if they are going to force higher rates on virtually all americans, because they are unwilling to let tax rates go up on 2% of americans, then that's the choice they're going to have to make. >> reporter: geithner presented his plan to republicans, calling for $1.6 trillion in revenue and cuts in stimulus spending. he suggested the bush era tax cuts must expire for the wealthiest americans. >> we put forward a very comprehensive, carefully designed mix of savings and tax reforms to help us put us back on a path to stabilizing our debt and living within our means. >> reporter: republicans did not welcome the proposal. >> i was disappointed by the president's proposal. i think it is a rerun of his budget proposal. the revenue proposals are $1.6 trillion in revenue and tax increases. >> reporter: and many are expressing frustration with the lack of progress. >> i would say we are nowhere, period. we are nowhere. >> reporter: